You’ve probably heard of Greenwich for its rich maritime history, World Heritage status and great time-keeping (this is the home of Greenwich Mean Time, no less). But there’s plenty more to discover across this Royal Borough, from sky-high cable cars to an Art Deco mansion. Here are just five things to do while you’re staying in the area:

1. See Tall Ships and Nelson’s Uniform

If you’re visiting London this September, don’t miss the Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta. Over five days (from 5 to 9 September), some 50 majestic tall ships will be arriving from the coast of Cornwall. But don’t worry if you miss out, one ship that’s not going anywhere is Cutty Sark– the last surviving tea clipper and the fastest and greatest of its time – now permanently docked in Greenwich. Don’t forget to pop into the nearby National Maritime Museum too to hear more fantastic sea tales – and see the coat Admiral Nelson wore at the Battle of Trafalgar (complete with bullet hole).While you’re there… Eat lunch at The Trafalgar Tavern, a historic 19th century pub overlooking the River Thames.

2. See Time and Space at the Royal Observatory and Planetarium

Sitting high above Greenwich town centre is the Royal Observatory, home of not only Greenwich Mean Time, but also the Prime Meridian of the world (the zero point of longitude), London’s only planetarium and the UK’s largest refracting telescope. Take in a show at the planetarium, marvel at Harrison’s timekeepers and stand astride the Prime Meridian line – with one foot in the east, the other in the west. Look out for new exhibitions too, such as Longitude Punk’d – featuring modern-day versions of the weird, wonderful and somewhat wacky inventions submitted during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.While you’re there… Go on a ramble around Greenwich Park. This rolling green space is popular with locals and tourists alike for picnics, team games, strolls, boating-lake rides and squirrel spotting.

3. Soak up the view from a cable car or on top of The O2

Get a bird’s eye view of Greenwich and across London from on top of The O2. How do you get up there? You climb of course. It’s all part of the Up At The O2 experience, a 90-minute journey to a 360-degree viewing platform atop the famous domed venue. Alternatively head to the nearby south terminal of the Emirates Air Line and take a cable car across the river to the north stop, Emirates Royal Docks. Or if you prefer to have your head in the clouds but your feet firmly on the ground, don’t miss the new Emirates Aviation Experience, where you can get a feel for life in the skies with the help of flight simulators and interactive aviation displays.While you’re there… Experience another unusual form of London transport and travel back to Central London by boat with City Cruises or Thames Clippers.

4. Visit A Royal Residence

Picturesquely located along the river, Queen’s House has ironically not housed many queens. Queen Anne (wife of James I) died before the building she commissioned was completed, and Henrietta Maria (wife of Charles I) spent little time there before the Civil War forced her to exile to France. It’s since fared better as an orphanage and then fine-art gallery – which it remains today. For something more off the beaten track, jump on the train to Eltham and visit the childhood home of Henry VIII, Eltham Palace – and the 1930s Art Deco mansion built next to the remains of this medieval royal palace.While you’re there… Sample one of the homegrown, limited-edition beers at The Old Brewery, a working brewery with a restaurant/cafe and bar on the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College.

5. Browse Greenwich Market

You don’t need to leave Greenwich to find great treasures, like maritime explorers of past, there are plenty of gems to uncover at Greenwich Market. Here, artists and craftspeople from the local area and beyond gather to sell their creations – from fashion to gifts, homemade candles and jewellery. There’s also a food section that’s always packed full of stalls selling street snacks from around the world. Head down on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays for antiques and collectibles, and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and weekends for arts and crafts.

While you’re there… If it’s the weekend (or a bank holiday) don’t forget to pay a visit to Greenwich’s other market, the Greenwich Clocktower Market, where you’ll find quirky antique and vintage pieces.

Shrove Tuesday is on 4 March and across London people will be busy mixing, flipping and eating pancakes to celebrate. Whether you’re a fan of the experimental filling, a traditionalist (nothing but lemon and sugar!) or just enjoy a good pancake race you’ll find plenty to satsify you.

Here are just a few of the most fun and unusual pancake day events taking place this year, from pancake races to a pop-up pancake pantry.

Complimentary crepes at Lowndes Bar & Kitchen

Passing through Belgravia on Shrove Tuesday between 8.30am and 10am? Pop into Lowndes Bar & Kitchen to enjoy a free crepe. If you miss the slot, fear not: you can still enjoy the restaurant’s menu of sweet and savoury crepes – including cinnamon and sugar, seafood with parmesan cream sauce and beef bolognaise in a rich tomato sauce.

Yes, you read correctly. A pancake cocktail. Well, an American pancake-infused Amaretto to be exact. It’s the latest innovative cocktail from Arminas ‘Junior’ Girtavicius at Strip Bar & Steak (other varieties include popcorn-infused vodka and custard vanilla foams). The cocktail, named The Griffin, is a twist on the Amaretto sour and is made up of pancake-infused Amaretto, fresh lemon juice, maple syrup, egg white and angostura bitters.

Parliamentary Pancake Race 2014

It’s back! Every year MPs, Lords and members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery take part in a good old-fashioned Parliamentary Pancake Race to raise money for Rehab, helping those with brain injuries, mental health issues and a range of disabilities. Head on down to Victoria Tower Gardens in Westminster at 10am to watch the political powers of Parliament battle it out for the Magnificent Tin Cup.

Great Spitalfields Pancake Race

You don’t have to be an MP to be an expert flipper, all dextrous pan wielders are welcome to join the Great Spitalfields Pancake Race. This lively event sees teams of four race up and down Dray Walk at the Old Truman Brewery (heats start at 12.30pm) to raise money for London’s Air Ambulance service. Pancakes are provided courtesy of Csaba’s Hungarian Creperie, with prizes from Cath Kidston, music from the Lost Marbles Strong Band and clowns from the E Team. It’s free to enter the race but you need to apply first, visit Alternative Arts for contact details.

Pop-up pancakes: Ingenio Restaurant at John Lewis Oxford Street

Cookware specialists Tefal have teamed up with leading department store John Lewis on Oxford Street to open the first ever pop-up restaurant in a shop window. This limited-edition eaterie will be open for two days only (3-4 March), serving up free gourmet savoury pancakes to lucky visitors. To book your place at the chef’s table visit www.tefalingenio.co.uk.

Pancake Day Carnival Party at Shutterbug

Shoreditch cocktail bar and creperie Shutterbug is getting in the Caribbean carnival vibe for Shrove Tuesday with a Mardi Gras-style pancake carnival. There’ll be sweet and savoury crepes and rum cocktails, plus carnival dancing and live music courtesy of the Trinidad & Tobago Tourist Board. All the fun starts at 6.30pm (though you can pop in for a pancake anytime from 9am)

Greenwich Market Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race

Greenwich Market marks Shrove Tuesday with a charity Pancake Race (in aid of Macmillan). Teams of four will take part, flipping their Dutch Dippers pancakes and competing to win the prizes for winning team and best fancy dress. So expect to see a few odd outfits around! Heats start at 1pm with children’s races at 4pm. Pop down to cheer along the teams and sample tasty pancakes from the market’s food stalls.

Hog roast pancake at The Gun

Pig in blankets aren’t just for Christmas. At The Gun in Docklands you can celebrate Shrove Tuesday with a pig in a pancake: that’s hog roast, apple, watercress and smoked paprika. The Gun is part of the ETM Group of restaurants, and delicious and unique pancake fillings can be found at each (other varieties available too):

Anyone with a serious interest in fashion should hotfoot it to Carnaby Street on 2 May when it will be hosting a 20% Off Shopping Party. From 5 to 9pm, shoppers can enjoy a 20% discount in more than 100 shops, restaurants and bars in and around Carnaby. Register for a free ticket here.

Designers at Greenwich Market

A glittering collective of designers will be showing off their talents at Greenwich Market as part of Craft & Design Month. Wood turners, jewellers, knitters, quilters, print makers, felters and blacksmiths will all be available to give inspirational advice and show you how it’s done at A Subtlety of Designers. If you’re feeling creative, you can have a go yourself! 4-6 May

New Shops at Seven Dials

New pop-up shop alert! Accessories and jewellery brand Moxham is hosting a temporary shop in Monmouth Street, Seven Dials in Covent Garden from 29 April until 24 May. Expect leather and metal cuffs, necklaces and body pieces, all of which will be handcrafted at the store. Open on 27 April is Spanish menswear shop El Ganso, which will be stashed with bright shirts, shorts, tailored blazers and smart suits.

Soho Flea Market

Start saving up your pennies for the Soho Flea Market on 2 June, where you’ll find creative stalls aplenty. Hyped as “London’s most glamorous flea market”, shoppers can get their mitts on everything from art prints to vintage clothes, furniture to ceramics. And to top it all off, emerging music and comedy acts will be performing on an outdoor stage. We can’t wait!

]]>http://blog.visitlondon.com/2013/04/london-shopping-news-carnaby-shopping-party-greenwich-market-seven-dials-soho-flea-market/feed/0London Shopping News: Christmas Lights, Superga, Lucy in Disguise and Carl Warner at Westfieldhttp://blog.visitlondon.com/2012/11/london-shopping-news-christmas-lights-superga-lucy-in-disguise-and-carl-warner-at-westfield/
http://blog.visitlondon.com/2012/11/london-shopping-news-christmas-lights-superga-lucy-in-disguise-and-carl-warner-at-westfield/#commentsWed, 07 Nov 2012 10:18:15 +0000http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=30038Christmas comes to town this week; plus there’s a new shoe shop in Carnaby, a pop-up in Seven Dials, and a free exhibition of food art at Westfield Stratford City.

London Turns On Its Christmas LightsIt’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Central London! This is the big week for London’s Christmas lights. Following Harrods’ Christmas Parade last week, look out for festive twinkles coming to Oxford Street, Regent Street, Carnaby, Covent Garden, Westfield, and Greenwich Market to name but a few. From now until Christmas, shopping in London after dark will be a real treat as all the main shopping areas show off their finest festive trimmings. Enjoy!

Superga Opens in CarnabyItalian shoe brand Superga has opened its second London store. Superga’s trademark vulcanized rubber soles can now be browsed and bought at 13 Newburgh Street in Carnaby. The brand was born back in 1911 Turin under the stewardship of Walter Martiny. After the war Superga reopened with a new mission to bring high-quality footwear to the people of Italy. Look out for the 2750, the so-called â€œPeople’s Shoe of Italyâ€. British Superstar Rita Ora is the face of their Spring/Summer 2013 campaign; if you can’t wait til then, pop into the new Carnaby store for fantastic shoes galore.

Lucy in Disguise Launches The Drama ParlourOn Thursday there’s a new hair studio opening inside Lucy in Disguise in Lexington Street. Billed as a one-stop shop and salon, tucked away in the eclectic comfort of the vintage boutique, you can have your hair tamed, teased and whipped into shape by Victoria Saunders, with her individual, one-to-one service. Working alongside her will be Sarah Hill, a fantastic hairdresser, if you are bored with your barnet or frustrated with your fringe, the Hair Mistress and team are here to revamp and revitalize your look! There will also be a â€œMenu of Make-up looksâ€ inspired by styles from the 1920s to the 1960s for you to choose from, created by make-up artist Holy Silius. Click here to find out more.

Keith Brymer Jones in Seven DialsAnother week; another fab Seven Dials pop-up shop. This time, British ceramicist Keith Brymer Jones is showcasing his full collection of beautiful, useable and practical objects at 15 Shorts Gardens. I really like his Word Collection: classic typewriter font stamped objects, with honest descriptors like â€œcoffeeâ€ or â€œbowlâ€, and more quirky statements like â€œdon’t panicâ€ and â€œoverworked and underpaidâ€. Look out, too, for the Punk range, where famous rock quotes are cleverly re-worded (â€œSex, Mugs and Rock â€˜n’ Rollâ€), and printed on safety-pin pierced mugs. As well as plates and mugs, the pop-up stocks baby gifts, pet bowls, kitchen items like aprons and jugs. There’s also the first home fragrance collection from the brand including soaps, scent diffusers and candles. Keith Brymer Jones is in Seven Dials until 27 November.

Carl Warner at Westfield Stratford CityIf you’re shopping at Westfield Stratford this weekend, don’t miss your chance to check out some free food art while you’re there. Food artist and photographer Carl Warner will be at Westfield Stratford City from today until Sunday 11 November. Carl will also be making an appearance, showing how he puts his work together in a series of demonstrations from Friday to Sunday, between 1pm-5pm each day in the Great Eastern Market on the Lower Ground Floor.

Carnaby Street’s Record Breaking Games
From today, Guinness World Records is challenging the public to become Totally Bonkers Sporting Champions live in Carnaby Street. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week, Guinness World Records will unveil an exclusive sporting challenge and offer you the chance to claim a world record title. Forget about the athletes breaking records in the Olympic Park for the moment: here’s your chance to become a world champion at the fastest tying of shoelaces wearing boxing gloves, for example, or the most bounces on a spacehopper. The Carnaby Street Games take place between 12.30 and 1.30pm on Carnaby Street. Every participant will receive a Carnaby canvas shopping bag, so even if you don’t break the record you won’t go away empty handed.

Greenwich Market’s Special Summer
If you’re visiting Greenwich during the London 2012 Olympic or Paralympic Games, don’t miss your chance to visit Greenwich Market too. As well as the usual brilliant shops and stalls, there are new heart-shaped art installations and a number of pop-up shops just for the summer. Look out for Pop Up@SE10, a new designer-maker venture on Nelson road, featuring local and London-based designers, makers and artists’ fashion, furniture, jewellery, glass and ceramics. It’s open from 12-8pm during the Games. RN@Greenwich is another pop-up. PO CIS Gunton and I CIS Reffell run and manage the shop on board HMS Ocean for their welfare fund, which is spent on morale-building events for the crew such as barbecues or film nights. The shop will be open daily from midday ’til late, until they sail after the Games.

Get Into the Games at Westfield London
There are even more reasons to visit Westfield London this summer. Every Monday and Thursday, there’s live music in the centre; visit with the kids on Tuesdays and you can meet Fireman Sam, Fifi and Bumble, Postman Pat, Angelina Ballerina and more. There are also arts and crafts activities at the Disney Store for little shoppers with big imaginations. If you hit the shopping centre on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, you can have a go at various sports in and around the centre, including table tennis, gymnastics and even free running. Shopping hours have been extended until 10pm, Monday to Saturday and til 9pm on Sundays. If you can’t bear to be away from the Olympic Games action, you’ll be pleased to hear there are big screens set up inside the centre too, so you won’t miss a thing!